Rachel Lindsay’s journey as the “Bachelorette” won’t air until May, but for ABC, the real work starts now.
On Monday, the network named the Texas-based lawyer the first black lead in the “Bachelor”/“Bachelorette” franchise’s 33-season history. And as she explained Tuesday on “Good Morning America,” she isn’t taking this trailblazing opportunity lightly.
“I’m honored,” Lindsay said, “to represent myself as an African-American woman.
“I just hope that people rally behind me . . . and just realize that I’m just trying to find love, and even though I’m an African-American woman, it’s no different than any other Bachelorette.”
Following suit with “Bachelorettes” Kaitlyn Bristowe and JoJo Fletcher before her, Lindsay’s suitors will likely be of varied races and professions. And while Twitter was quick to praise creator Mike Fleiss and ABC for their diverse selection, the masterminds must not lose sight of Lindsay’s endgame of finding everlasting love, by falling into the reality TV trap of casting zany characters likely to overshadow the lead.
Take current “Bachelor” villainess Corinne Olympios, who successfully hijacked Viall’s season early on with the simple mention of having a live-in nanny at the age of 24 or ridiculous lines such as “My heart is gold, but my vagine is platinum.” And how could we forget about the devilishly entertaining Chad Johnson from last year’s “Bachelorette,” famous for pooping his pants after a drunken rampage on “Bachelor in Paradise”?
Should ABC veer into the campy — as opposed to, dare we say, classy — for the next season, Lindsay’s historic casting will have been for nothing. If the network doesn’t want to take this process seriously, why should viewers?
Yes, both “The Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” are cheesy and light-hearted, but at the end of the day, the premise being touted by the lead and the promise being made to viewers is the hope of finding a soul mate. If ABC wants to make this next barrier-breaking season a success, they should take some advice from their newest star.
“I said this on the show all the time, but I like to keep it 100 and keep it real,” Lindsay said on “GMA.” “I figure, if I just stay true to myself, it’ll be a successful show.”
Season 13 of the “Bachelorette” premieres Monday, May 22.